THOUSAND OAKS >> With three starters returning to the offensive line, the Rams will lean on a pair of second-year players to protect quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley this season.

Brian Allen is expected to start at center for 11-year veteran John Sullivan, and lineman Joe Noteboom will step in for 10-year veteran Rodger Saffold. Noteboom and Allen were drafted in the third and fourth round respectively in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“(Allen) has to make all the calls and take over Sully’s spot,” Gurley said. “He’s been doing a great job. He was with us last year learning a lot.”

The Rams declined Sullivan’s option in the spring, leaving Allen with big shoes to fill. Allen said he is thankful for the opportunity he had learning from the veteran last year as rookie.

“That was awesome having a veteran center to learn from,” Allen said. “I know some guys come into situations where they don’t have a guy like that who knows everything. He was the brains of our offense last year.”

With all five linemen starting every regular season game last year, Noteboom and Allen are each still in search of their first official starts.

Gurley mentioned that the linemen were doing a good job at communicating along the line but pointed out Noteboom is the “quiet guy” of the group.

When asked about Gurley’s observation, Noteboom stated that the running back isn’t the first to point out his quiet nature.

“I’m getting better at it,” Noteboom said. “I make sure I get the calls out and everything that needs to be said. I’m working on it.”

RETURNING HOME

The Rams’ first home preseason game will take place Saturday against the Denver Broncos in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. It will also be a homecoming for undrafted rookie Jalen Greene.

Greene, who is looking to make the team’s 53-man roster as a receiver, spent four years with the USC football program before transferring to Utah State in 2018.

As a senior, Greene had 44 catches for 689 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games with Utah State.

His biggest takeaway from his eight months in Utah was what he learned from moving away from home.

“The experience was definitely something I needed,” he explained. “I traveled but never actually lived somewhere else and been on my own. I’m grateful I got to do it when I was already mature enough to be away from home and handle my business in school.”

Not only is Greene excited about the opportunity to play in the Coliseum again, but also for the chance to see the new renovations.

The receiver originally committed to the Trojans as a quarterback out of Serra High before making the position switch during his sophomore year. Greene credits his experience as a quarterback for the way he is able to view the game at this stage in his career.

“It’s my approach to the game,” Greene said. “It’s just the way I break down film, look at the playbook and critique myself.”

An opportunity with the Rams has also provided him with a chance to interact with former Trojans like receiver Robert Woods and linebacker Clay Matthews.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:

In the week following the joint announcement regarding the partnership between rapper Jay-Z and the NFL, Kenny Stills of the Miami Dolphins and Eric Reid of the Carolina Panthers were not shy about sharing their stance.

It is not the first time either player has been outspoken about social issues and the league’s role in it.

The same cannot be said about most of the Rams’ current players, who haven’t spoke publicly about it, but McVay believes the trending topic could be another opportunity to “have a clear cut understanding of where guys are coming from and why they might have a certain perspective or value certain things.”

“I like to think there is an open platform,” McVay said. “If a guy feels a certain way or has a problem with the way we want to be able to operate organizationally. I’m not worried about who is right but what is right.

“I always want to be somebody that is learning and listening.”

McVay was also asked about the Oakland Raiders receiver Antonio Brown, who has been a trending topic around the league after filing a grievance about helmets.

“What I respect about that specific situation, you see Coach Gruden and he has his players’ backs,” McVay said. “That is what we want to make sure our guys understand here and that’s very important to us.”

McVay said the team hasn’t explored what comes next for the linebacker or whether he will be placed on injured reserve.

“If there’s anybody that you know is going to handle it the right way in terms of attacking the rehab, like we talk about, letting these setbacks be setups for comebacks, it’s going to be Micah,” McVay said.

James H. Williams joined the Southern California News Group in 2013 with a passion for sports, social media and journalism that has led to his role as a Digital Sports Producer. During his down time, he finds himself on social media providing scores and stats on local and professional sports. When he is out at a game, he can be found roaming the sidelines and the snack bar at halftime.

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